ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The nation is watching a special congressional election in our area on Tuesday, which features Republican State Senator Randy Fine and Democrat Josh Weil, with the winner filling the seat vacated by Mike Waltz, who left the seat to become President Trump’s National Security Advisor.
Now, national political observers are looking to see if the race is close because Waltz won the typically safe Republican seat in November by 30 points.
Mike Binder, a political science professor and pollster at the University of North Florida, said the fact that it’s a special election could lead to an interesting outcome.
“[It will be] closer than it was for the same district a few months ago,” Binder said. “But it’s important to keep in mind...it’s off cycle. Weird things happen, and it’s an opportunity to come out and say we’re unhappy with the Trump administration.”
Fine has been a Trump loyalist, and as recently as this morning, the president posted on X that the congressional candidate is a, “highly successful, Harvard educated businessman, and greatly respected State Legislator.”
Trump added that Fine has been a “tremendous Voice for MAGA.”
America First Patriot Randy Fine is running to represent the Wonderful People of Florida’s 6th Congressional District! A highly successful, Harvard educated businessman, and greatly respected State Legislator, Randy has been a tremendous Voice for MAGA. In Congress, Randy will be…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2025
But Fine has had recent skirmishes in his own party, specifically with Governor DeSantis.
A few weeks ago, Fine told News4JAX that he had some issues with the Florida governor over his original state budget proposal.
“It is not the time to tell the legislature what you would like in the budget because I will tell you the vast majority of my colleagues threw it right in the trash,” Fine said. “Sure. It doesn’t matter. His budget is not the starting point. It is just the request.”
While DeSantis never directly responded to Fine’s comments, but did have something to say about the overall race for Florida’s sixth congressional district.
“It’s almost impossible for someone with an ‘R’ by their name to lose that district,” DeSantis said. “I would anticipate (the) Republican candidate is still going to be successful. Do I think that they will get even close to the margins that I received or President Trump received? No. Is that a reflection on the president? Absolutely not. It’s a reflection of the candidate running in that race.”
For Weil, a teacher from Orlando who has raised several million dollars for this race and recently received an endorsement from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, questions remain over whether he can deliver a talking point for Democrats, who hope the race can be used as a referendum on the Trump administration with an upset or close race.